When you stop taking the pill, using an IUD, implant, or other hormonal method, your body often needs time to rediscover its own rhythm. For some, periods return within weeks. For others, it can take several months before cycles settle again.

During that transition, you might notice changes in skin, hair, discharge, mood, or energy. That’s because your natural production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone is slowly waking up again. The brain must reestablish communication with the ovaries through the pituitary gland — a system that’s been quiet for a while.

For most, it’s a phase of adjustment, not dysfunction. But if your period doesn’t return within three months, or if you experience severe acne, hair loss, or pain, it’s worth seeing a healthcare provider. Your body might need a little extra support to rebalance.

Alma’s tips:

Give your body time. It hasn’t “forgotten” how to function — it’s just recalibrating. Track your symptoms, sleep well, eat regularly, and move in ways that feel kind. Avoid comparing your recovery to anyone else’s — every body has its own tempo. And if you’re worried, reach out. You don’t have to wait in silence — your body wants to work with you, not against you.